Fiscal Fast – 7 days no spending (at all)

[Deleted User]

Good Luck to all fiscal-fasters and I have listed all the stuff I have to use up if I can before buying anything else.This month I have only done one shop and have over £30 left in my little brown food purse.I have nothing else to buy at all in December as I shall be away from home from the 24th onwards until the New Year so what fresh stuff I have in the fridge is getting used up first.

I buy UHT milk as I don't use a lot of it anyway so I have no fresh milk to worry about I don't eat bread anymore (haven't done for months ) don't miss it, and use crackers/crispbread instead.

Fresh fruit that I have in stock are 6 apples and four oranges and about 200 gms of black grapes, so they will be used up over the next week.

I have mainly salad stuff tomatoes,cucumber and some lettuce in the fridge, and about a kilo of potatoes so more than enough to streetch out.

I also have a sweetheart cabbage in foil in the fridge and some red onions that if I haven't used I will diced and freeze.A few mushrooms which will go into an omelette along with some diced red pepper for lunch today uses those up.Hopefully I will be able to use up the stuff I have before I go away to my DDs for Christmas ,if not I'll take it with me and it will go into her fridge

This Saturday night I am out to dinner at DDs as its her birthday and I am also out tonight as its my DGS Ben's birthday

So definitely no shopping at all for me for the rest of the month :):) the left-over food purse cash will go into my holiday fund for next August Then come January I will start my new months food budget with £60.00 as usual. I shall still be using as much of my tinned stuff up as possible as I seem to have overflowing cupboards and far too much stuff in there .

2016 my resolution is to get the cupboards a bit more freed up from the amount of stuff in there.Less shopping during the month means more left over loot going into the holiday fund.So serious fiscal fasting going on for me :):)
Good luck every one, and I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.

Some innovated recipes for stuff in your cupboards may help others who are belt tightening during the coming long winter months of January and February.
So don't be shy, shout if you come up with some thing different to use up your stuff with.:)

I am going to try the Mary Berry tray-bake made with marmalade as I have a pot in my cupboard that needs using up.I had some from a lady I know last week and it was delicious, the best tray-bake I have ever tasted and she topped it with lemon butter icing.She said it freezes well once sliced as well so you can defrost a few slices at a time .
Enjoy chums
Cheers JackieO xxx

debbie_debt

Happydays89 I hope the new year brings new job hunting fortunes your way!

JackieO how many do you feed for £60 a month?? Our food budget is £400 for two adults, a teenager, a baby (inc nappies/formula etc) and two dogs. I though I was doing ok at that!! I tend to come in slightly under at about £350.

My main splurge/wastefulness is eating lunch out. I'm currently on maternity leave and always seem to be out at baby groups/gym/swimming at lunch time and stay for lunch. I know I need to cut it out, it costs a fortune, but I'd need to leave to eat my own packed lunch (if I'm at a play entire or somewhere that does food) and feel like I'd constantly be leaving places early. I might need to start scoffing lunch at 10am at home before we go so I'm not hungry ha ha. Any other suggestions? I could still go to play centres during a fiscal fast as they're free for his age, but I'd need to resist the cafes...

Debbie

boultdj

Why do you 'need' to leave to eat your own food? I use to take my own pack up when I went swimming, I just use to buy a drink, would that be possable at the places your going to?

[Deleted User]

debbie_debt I am a widow who lives alone, so I only have to feed myself.

I am lucky in that Sunday dinner I always have at my youngest DDs and as she has a large family of 6 at home I often go home with enough left overs of veg and a few potatos and some slices of meat for Monday nights dinner.

Tuesday nights dinner is usually at the local pub night quiz which costs me £2.00 and includes something hot to eat.Last night we had a sausage pasta which was delicious.

so I only have to cook four evening meals a week for myself which helps cut down my food bill.

I have cereal or porridge for breakfast and lunch is usually some crackers and cheese or pate with some HM soup.I make a big saucepan full of veg soup, depending what veg is either in season or YS or on offer at Aldi's

I make all my own cakes and biscuits which means I don't eat processed food or cakes made with three month shelf lives.

I usually try to eat a blanced diet and I suppsoe I spend about a third of my budget on fresh fruit and veg.I enjoy veggie meals and a veggie lasagne or chilli or curry is just as tasty.I still eat meat but not as much as I used to because I enjoy vegetables so much. lentil pate is cheap enough to make and I am an old fashion cook (probably because of my advanced age) and can often make things stretch quite well.I grew up with a wartime menu and rationing until I was almost 11,and a very canny little scots Mum thank goodness who taught me everything I know about making do and mending.

I prefer to eat my own 'made from scratch' stuff as I know what goes in it
I'm not keen on shop bought cakes or coffee as I just think its over-priced and just not good value. but each to their own and if you can afford it then fine but if you want to ssave cash then its a home made packed lunch and a flask or travel mug of your own coffee.

I have been looking after four of my grandsons for the past 8 years before and after school and they all know that if we go out on a trip its usually a picnic lunch and our own squash or juice.They are happy that by doing this we get to go all sorts of places and usually in the summer the treat is a cornet or ice lolly which hopefully doesn't break the bank.I have an English Heritage card with the boys on it so we get to go to castles anddifferent stately homes for visits and it just costs me the diesel to get there and an ice cream afterwards. There are so many things out there that are free and enjoyable for adults and children and you don't have to spend a fortune.When my children were growing up we had trips to the libraries, parks etc which cost nothing, a visit to museums also are free.

Depending where you live its possible to have a few good days out without spending too much.

JackieO xx

peony40

Morning,

It is time for me to do another fiscal fast. We have enough food/toiletries etc., in the house to last for some time. I will need to top up with fresh food sometime during the month but I do have grocery money set aside. My main reason for doing the fiscal fast is to get on top of my online purchases, mainly on wool and books. I have plenty of wool and books to keep me going for the rest of the year!

Since moving at the end of last year our savings are seriously depleted, so I would like to rebuild an emergency fund, and then start saving towards hubby's retirement.

peony40

A NSD, which is good. Also, managed to catch up with my monthly christmas saving fund, so feel happier for this.

Will also be a NSD tomorrow as staying indoors and shredding.

[Deleted User]

Done well this month by only having to shop twice, and then it was for essentials and fruit and veg. No more shopping needs to be bought this month, and my left over surplus cash is going into my 'holiday' fund

New month starts next Monday, so it will be a new lot of £60.00 going into my old brown food budget purse.

Freezer is still pretty full at the moment and the cupboards are looking OK for now. It will be fresh fruit and veg mostly next month again I think.

Well done to those who are freezer diving during this period.Tonight I have a shepperd's pie for dinner with some fresh broccoli and fruit and yogurt for pudding
:):)

Caterina

Toying with the idea of a week's fiscal fast but have 2 fixed commitments, the first is a donation to the church at Sunday Service, would it count?

The second one, also church related, is a donation to the weekly church community lunch, and I would feel uncomfortable to not give something as it goes to charity, for the homeless winter shelter. I could skip going for one week but it is my way of keeping social relations with other community members going.

One way to do it would be put aside say, a fiver, to cover both expenditures, in advance of the fast. What do you think? Thank you for comments and suggestions.

peony40

Hello Jackie and Caterina,

Caterina, I would still go and put the money aside for the church events. For me the fiscal fast is cutting out all the unnecessary expenditure, but I still pay for the things that are very important to me. Perhaps, if I was very hard up I would need to adjust my outlook, but I like to keep a balance. Hope this is clear!

Caterina

Hi Peony40, thank you for your reply.

I am going to think when best to do it, might be a good project for Lent, giving up all unnecessary spend, for the whole 40 days, only buying what is really necessary. Would have to discuss with DH, though, as I don't want him to feel deprived and only want something like this to happen in a conflict free atmosphere.